The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-17
MEN AND TUBS.
rNca.R sAA (Kn N. rnN11Rpl,

MY DEAR NErREws l have long been of the opinion that the man W ho gets most pleasure out of this life Is he whose attention Is not wholly ab- sorbed in any one thing, no matter what it Is, am aware too, of tho fact that whatever man Is most in- terested in, that of coUrso gives him most pleasure at least, lie thinks 1t does, But, as matter of fact lt doesn't.
 Whyp
 Because 1t may bc only morbid. selfish enjoyment that he derives from it-an enjoyment that narrows and dwarfs all his finer sensibilities, stunts and retaris his intellectual growth and development, and therefore les sens in corresponding degree his capabilities to appreciate the highest and best pleasures of life.
 You say every tub stands on it's own bottom.
 Very truc: hut some tnhs are great deal larger than others.
 So with men. X tubs capacity Is fixed when it Is made. A mans isn't. If he desires, he can broaden and de- vclop all his powers, and his faculties, until from mediocre, he Is trans formed into \ genius. Right here want to say that l don't believe the old saying that "a genius Is born, not made" will admi. genius is born. so far as l know, at least, Just the same as the ordinary individual comes into the world but he is born mortal, and the question of his becom- ing genius Is one that depends.
 On what?
 We'll, himself.
 If the candidate Is naturally bright and intelligent and gets 1t into his head to be x genius. he can doubtless get there easier than some others not so gifted. But for all that his course of studies must be pursued his pow CTS of thought and his observing fac ulties must be carefully cultivated, and then when he has obtained ripe ness of intellect and soundneas oT judgment, together with vast amount of knowledge of men and things. he can write books or deliver orations, manage n prlma. donna, or be- come baseball pitcher, and the world will call him genius. But 1t don't give the poor fellew any credit fer having done any thing for himself The idea is, 70, he Is A genius; born that way: no fault of his" When the truth Is, hc was only fairly tal- ented. to begin with, and only at- tained to the measure of his success by hard and laborious study and -~ may add-practicc.
 However, you must not conclude that there are no born gcniuscs. for there are; only they are like sca Sor- pcnts, seldom seen, and when they do come to the suriace cause considerable commotion In the community. have seen great many students and scholars whose attainments and abili. ties commanded both my profound respect and my 'ineere admiration; while on the other hand, 1 do not rc. member to have ever met genius, however brilliant, who did not excite my sympathy. A genius Is generally the slave of circumstances, great only through the accident of birth, and too often abnormally strong iD some ono trait of character and intellect, and oorrespondipgly weak Tn the many others that go Co make up a wcll-bal- anccd, and therefore truly great, man.
 But to get back to what 1 started out on, and must now dismiss It in n single sentence. Don't follow any one thing to the utter exclusion of everything else. One of the pleasant features of a Journey Is the enjoyment of the scenery through which we may Ike passing and all this can be done, both to our pleasure and profit, and still not hinder Us from reaching our intended destination on time.